Speed-changing apparatus



Oct. 21, 1947. BRECKENRmGE 2,429,509

SPEED CHANGING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FRANK Brazcxmmoaz.

ATTORNEY 1947- F. BRECKENRIDGE 2 SPEED CHANGING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1946 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR FRANK BRECKENRIDGE.

BY 6.14.1 I I Oct. 1947 A F. BRECKENRIDGE 2,429,509

SPEED CHANGING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1946 -3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WI NESSES:

FRANK BRECKENRIDGE.

(5.14. WM ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1947 SPEED-CHANGING APPARATUS Frank Breckenridge, Teaneck, N. J., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 15, 1946, Serial No. 677,030

4 Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of the copending application filed jointly by Hilbert E. Edwards and myself for improvement in Cleaning apparatus, Serial No. 476,838, and filed February 23, 1943.

My invention relates to speed-changing apparatus and has for an object to provide improved apparatus of this kind.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved speed-changing apparatus for a cleaning and centrifuging machine which apparatus is relatively light in weight and inexpensive to construct.

It'is a still further object of the invention to prevent the escape of lubricant from an oil-containing speed-change mechanism of a laundry machine operating at different speeds for the washing and centrifuging of fabrics.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of a portion of a laundry machine having applied thereto, a speedchanging mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention; portions of the machine being shown in section for clearness;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of my improved speed changing mechanism, and is taken along the line IIIIII of Fig. and

Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, sections taken 1 along the lines IV-IV and VV of Fig. 3.

Reference will now behad to the drawings wherein I have shown my invention applied to a washing and spinning machine of the type shown in the patent to Frank Breckenridge et al. No. 2,296,261, dated September 22, 1942, and assigned to the assignee of. the present application. This type of machine includes a tub structure enclosing a basket rotatable at different speeds for washing and centrifuging the fabrics about'an axis inclined at an acute angle from the vertical. A portion of the tub is shown at Ill and includes a side wall I and, an end wall l2, the side wall I I having a drain opening l3 formed therein. The basket is shown generally at M and includes a side wall |5 having a plurality of inwardly-extending vanes formed therein, one of the vanes being shown at H5. The side wall I5 of the basket is perforate throughout, substantially, its extent, a portion of the perforations being shown at H. The lower end wall of the basket, shown at I8,

Rotation of the stub shaft |9 at a relativelylow speed for washing and at a relatively high speed for centrifuging fluid from the fabrics is effected by a motor 25 and a two-speed mechanism, generally shown at 26 and constructed in accordance with my invention. The motor 25 is supported from the tub structure l0 by a bracket construction including a bracket 21 welded or otherwise secured at its upper end to the wall member 23 of the tub l0. One end of the motor 25 is carried by the lower end of the bracket 21,

suitable clamps 28 being provided for clamping the motor to the bracket 21. The opposite or forward end of the motor 25 may also be supported by a bracket (not shown) carried by the tub I.

The two-speed mechanism shown at 26 includes respective driven and driving shafts 3| and 32 which are concentrically arranged and rotatable about an oblique axissubstantially parallel to the axis of the stub shaft l9. The driven shaft 3| carries a pulley 33 which is connected by means of a belt 34 to a pulley 35 rotated by the motor 25. The driving shaft 32 carries a pulley 38 connected by means of a belt 31 to a sheave 38 secured to one end of the stub shaft l9. An axiallyextending flange39 is provided on the pulley 33 for a purpose to be referred to hereinafter.

The two-speed mechanism 26 includes an en closing casing 40, the front end of which is provided with a plurality of supporting ears 4|, each of which is provided with an opening for the reception of supporting rods 42. The rods 42 are carried by a flange 43 forming a part of the bracket member 21. Preferably, the rods are secured to the flange 43 by nuts 44. A pair of springs 45 carried by the respective rods 42 engage the ears 4| and bias the multiple-speed mechanism 26 downwardly and to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, whereby the belts 34 and 31 are tensioned.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, showing the construction of the two-speed mechanism 26 in detail. This mechanism is of the planetary gear type and includes a sun gear 48 which is preferably cut in the shaft 3|, a plurality of planet gears 41, and an orbit gear 48 formed interiorly of an orbit gear structure 48. The planet gears 41 are carried by axles II which are fixed to a spider 52 carried by and rotatable with the hollow driving shaft 32. The driving shaft 32 is provided interiorly, with bearings 53 which rotatably support one end of the driven shaft 3|. Support for the driving shaft 32 is provided by a bearing 54 carried by an end wall 55 of the casing structure 40. The opposite or rear end of the driven shaft 3| is journaled in a suitable bearing 56 supported by an opposite end wall 51 of the casing 40.

The orbit gear structure 49 is carried by the spider 52 by means of a bushing 58 sothat the spider 52 and the orbit gear structure 49 may rotate relative one another. As described hereinafter, the spider 52 may be moved slightly in an axial direction. Accordingly, the connecting bushing 58 is so constructed that the orbit gear structure 49 will move axially with the spider 52. This operation may be accomplished by providing the bushing 58 with a shoulder 59 engaging the end of the orbit gear structure 49.

An axial thrust is imparted to the spider 52 and the orbit gear structure 49 to the right (as shown in Fig. 3) by a spring structure 6 I, one end 62 of which bears against the end wall 55 and the inner end 63 of which bears against the spider 52 and the bushing 58. During low-speed operation of the mechanism the spring 6| forcesan end 64 of the orbit gear structure 49 into engagement with an annular shoulder 65 formed on the easing 40. As described hereinafter, the end portion 64 and the annular shoulder 65 define a brake for the orbit gear structure 49 when the mechanism is actuated to its low-speed position after having been operated at high speed.

A clutching mechanism, generally shown at 66, is interposed between the driven shaft 3| and the spider 52 for locking these members together during high-speed operation. The clutch 66 may be of any suitable construction, but preferably is of the disc or plate type, and includes a plurality of discs 61 which are carried by a clutch plate 68 and rotatable therewith. The clutch plate 68 is provided with a plurality of inwardly-extending teeth 69 which intervene between the ends of the teeth of the sun gear 46 so that the clutch plate 68 rotates at all times with the sun gear, 46 and the driven shaft 3|.. A shoulder 1| is provided on the driven shaft 3|, which engages the ends of the inwardly-extending teeth 69 so that the clutch plate 68 wlll move axially with the shaft 3|, as described hereinafter. The rotatable clutch discs 61 intervene between and are engageable with a plurality of discs 12 rotatably adjacent their outer peripheries, by a holder 13, the latter being secured to the spider 52. Preferably, the spider includes a plurality of outwardly-extending arms 14 which are riveted, as shown at 15, to the holder 13 (see Figs. 3 and 5).

Engagement and disengagement of the clutch 66 are effected by imparting slight axial movements to the shaft 3|. As shown in the drawing, the clutch 66 is disengaged so that the mechanism operates to rotate the driving shaft 32 at low speed. In this position of the apparatus the surface 64 of the orbit gear structure 49 frictionally engages the annular shoulder 65 of the casing so that the orbit gear structure is stationary. Accordingly, the spider 52 is driven by the planet ears 41 as they-are rotated within the to the shaft 3| to the left as viewedln'Fig. 3. v

This movement causes the shoulder 1| to engage the inward teeth 68 of the clutch plate 68. whereby the clutch plate 68 is moved to the left and compresses the discs 61 and 12. Accordingly. the clutch 66 is engaged and the spider 52 is locked to the driven shaft 3| so that both pulleys 33 and 36 and their respective shafts operate at the same speed. The axial movement imparted to the shaft 3| and clutch plate 68 moves the spider 52 slightly to the left in opposition to the bias of the spring 6| whereupon the orbit gear structure 49 is relieved of the bias of the spring and the braking effect provided by its surface 64 and the shoulder 65 is terminated. In this high-speed position, it will be apparent that planet gears 41, the sun gear 46, and the orbit gear 49 are locked together so that they rotate as a unit.

The means for moving the shaft 3| axially includes a solenoid 15 having a movable armature 16 connected to a crank arm 11 which is pivoted by a tongue and slot connection to a bracket 18 carried by. the casing end wall 51. The arm 11 carries a push button 19 which engages a small plate 8| carried on the exterior of a flexible wall or bellows 82. The inner surface of the bellows 82 carries a block 83 which is in engagement with a ball 84 carried in a recess-formed in the end of the driven shaft 3|. The bellows 82 is secured to a cup 85 formed on the casing end wall 51 and defines a fluidtight seal between the interior and exterior of the casing 40. Accordingly, escape of lubricant at this point is precluded.

During periods when the solenoid 15 is deepergized, the apparatus occupies the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the shaft 3| is in its right-hand axial position with the clutch 66 disengaged. Upon energization of the solenoid 15, the armature I6 and the crank arm 11, move to the left and slightly compress the bellows 82, whereupon the shaft 3| is moved axially to the left. This movement engages the clutch 66 and effects high-speed operation of the apparatus as described.

When the two-speed mechanism 26 is applied to a washer of the type shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 3| is oblique so that the wall 51 of the casing 40 is lowermost. Accordingly, the shafts 3| and 32 project through the upper end wall 55 of the casing and in this oblique position, the escape of lubricant from the casing 40 is prevented. Any tendency for the lubricant to escape along the shafts 3| and 32 is counteracted by gravity. By terminating the driven shaft 3| inwardly of the flexible wall 82, the escape of oil from the lower' end of the casing is impossible, it being understood that the flexible wall 82 is connected in fluid-tight relationship with the casing 40.

the orbit gear structure 49 and engageable with a pawl 81 pivoted at 88 to the casing 40. In order to prevent noise caused by the pawl 81 riding upon the teeth 86 during high-speed operation, or when the orbit gear structure 49 is rotated clockwise, a resilient drag ring 89 is provided. This ring 89 frictionally engages an undercut portion 9| formed in the ratchet teeth 86 and, therefore, tends to rotate at all times with the orbit gear structure 09. Upon slight clockwise movement of the orbit gear structure 49, as viewed in Fig. i, an upwardly-extending end 90 of the drag ring 89 engages the surface 92 defined by a slot in the pawl 87 and moves the pawl upwardly out of engagement with the teeth 85. When the mechanism is adjusted for slow-speed operation, the pawl 81 is retained out of engagement with the teeth 86 until rotation of the orbit gear structure is terminated and slight counterclockwise movement imparted thereto by the planet gears 41. As the orbit gear structure 49 moves slightly counterclockwise, the end 9| of the drag ring 89 engages the surface 93 of the pawl and swings the pawl downwardly into operative engagement with the ratchet teeth 86, whereupon further clockwise movement of the orbit gear structure 49 is prevented.

Washing apparatus of the type disclosed herein usually employs a pump for removing vitiated water discharged through the drain opening l3 and for removing the water thrown from the clothes during centrifuging. The pump for this purpose is shown at 95, the inlet of which is connected by a flexible conduit 96 to a sump 91 communicating with the discharge opening 13. The outlet opening 98 of the pump is connected by a flexible conduit, not shown, to a point of discharge. The pump 95 may be of the well-known centrifugal type and includes a rotating driving shaft 99 having a wheel I! keyed or otherwise fixed thereto for driving the same. As best shown in Fig. l, the wheel 10! is arranged within the annular flange 39 of the pulley 33 and during operating periods of the pump 95, the wheel [0| is held in frictional engagement with the flange 39. When the pump 95 is to be stopped, the wheel IN is moved upwardly out of engagement with the flange 39. This operation is accomplished, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by pivotally supporting the pump 95 by means of a suitable pivot I02 to the bracket 27. The pump structure is biased upwardly toward its inactive position by a spring I03 interposed between a plate I04 carried by the pump structure 95 and the second plate I05 forming a part of the bracket 21. Movement of the pump structure 95 to its active position is effected by a solenoid I06, the armature I07 of which is connected by a spring I08 to an arm I09 forming a part of the pump structure 95.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided an improved speedreducing and speed-changing mechanism for a washing and spinning machine wherein loss of lubricant from the mechanism is prevented. I make no claim to the combination of the speedchanging mechanism and the driving and driven elements of the washing machine disclosed but I do claim as new a speed-changing mechanism per se having adjusting means cooperating with the flexible wall member 82, the latter precluding the loss of lubricant from the casing of the speed-changing mechanism.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art 6 that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In speed-changing apparatus, the combination of a casing including first and second end walls, a variable speed mechanism arranged within the casing, driving and driven shafts connected to said mechanism and extending through said first end wall of said casing, said second end wall of the casing having a portion thereof of flexible construction, and means for varying the speed of said variable speed mechanism including an adjustable movable member arranged exteriorly of the casing and engaging said end wall portion of flexible construction.

2. In speed-changing apparatus, the combination of a casing including upper and lower end walls, a, variable speed mechanism arranged within the casing, driving and driven shafts connected to said mechanism and extending through said upper end wall of the casing, said driving and driven shafts having their axes of rotation inclined at an acute angle from the horizontal, said lower end wall of the casing having a portion thereof of flexible construction, and means for varying the speed of said variable speed mechanism including an adjustable member arranged exteriorly of the casing and engaging said end wall portion of flexible construction.

3. In speed-changing apparatus, the combination of a casing having upper and lower end walls, a variable speed mechanism arranged within the casing, driving and driven shafts connected to said mechanism and extending through said upper end wall of the casing, said shafts having their axes of rotation inclined from the horizontal, said lower end wall of the casing having a portion thereof of flexible construction, and means for varying speed-mechanism including a member arranged within the casing and engaging the inner surface of the end wall of flexible construction and an adjustable member disposed exteriorly of the casing and engaging the outer surface of said end wall portion of flexible construction.

4. In speed-changing apparatus, the combination of a casing structure having upper and lower end walls, a variable speed mechanism arranged within the casing, driving and driven shafts concentrically arranged and connected to said mechanism, said shafts being rotatable about an oblique axis and said shafts extending through said upper end wall of the casing, said lower end wall of the casing including a portion of flexible construction, and means for varying the speed of said variable speed mechanism including a member arranged exteriorly of the casing and engaging the end wall portion of flexible con- 'struction.

FRANK BRECKENRIDGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS the speed of said variable 

